Journey through landless people.... Let's voice out for voiceless people who displaced by war,Natural disaster , Mass development activities and Human & Elephant Co-Existence issue and Plantation workers of Sri Lanka

Written By Joining Hands Network on Thursday, May 31, 2018 | 11:52 PM

Civil Societies in Sri Lanka conducted a protest on brutal attack and killings against Thuththukudy people of India at the Indian High Commission in Colombo today on 30th May 2018. Praja Abhilasha network partners and the Coordinator have joined hands with the protest. Praja Abhilasha Network condemn the brutal attack of the police. at the same time the PA Network urge the Indian government to provide justice for the affected and affecting people.

On 26th and 27th May 2018- Praja Abhilasha Network has conducted a workshop on Right to information Act and people's engagement at Oruthita Chalets in Oruthota... 29 participated at the workshop.Mr.Jagath Liyanarachchi (Director of information Grid) of National Media Centre and Ms.Ravidra Sumathipala (Attony at Law) took part as resource persons on the workshop.

On the morning of April 23, 2018, about 350
people from the Iranaimathanagarin
northern province of Sri Lanka decided to sail there in about 40 boats towards
Iranaithivu Island . Iranaithivu people displaced and lived in Iranaimathanagar
since 1992, and the Navy has occupied the island, barring the local people from
staying or even visiting their traditional land, on which had hinged their
livelihood. The islands also had important institutions such as a school,
churches, cooperative, weaving centre, hospital and village council etc.

These people hoped that they could return to
their island after the end of the war in 2009, and the election of a new
government in 2015. Yet, they
were still not allowed to return, despite a series of
meetings and correspondence with Ministers, politicians and government
officials from 2016 to 2017. In desperation, they resorted to a continuous
protest for almost a year (359 days as of April 23). Even that didn’t bring
them home.

Praja Abhilasha has supported for Pulakkudiruppu
land struggle, through the continuous land struggle Pulakudiruppu people gained
their land in March 1st 2017. Iranaithivu people also learnt the lesson from
Pulakudiruppu people and staged their continuous protest on 1st of May 2017.

The first mass protest was conducted in May 28th
, 2017 at Kilinochchi town in Northern province, PA coordinator and Mannar
District Fisheries Solidarity Coordinator took part at the first mass protest.
also supported other communities to join with this protest.after the protest , people met the District
Secretary of Kilinochchi and he stated that he would pass the message to
President and let us know... after that, there were many meeting was held with
government officials, but nothing happened.

on 18th April, I had a meeting with the church
priest at the parish house in Mulamgavil , he said they have an idea. when i
heard , i got scared . he requested me to bring a team of journalists from south to cover the news in
Tamil and English Medias. because they are going to do a serious thing..I thought it was an good idea too. He said
"People are going to occupy their land in Iranaithivu forcefully. but we pass the message just we are protesting.
no one mentioned about occupying their island through sailing their boats
towards Iranaithivu. The priest Further said that he need more people's support
and big crowd. and I agreed to arrange more people . Then Praja Abhilasha(PA) and NAFSO have arranged a van for the journalists from Colombo to Iranaimathanagar. At the
same time, PA mobilized people from Mannar and nearly 70 people came from
Mannar and joined hands with the Iranaithivu people.

also I had a meeting with the community
separately- they requested me they need media support and food and water once
they occupy the land in Iranaithivu. I discussed with our partners and other
organizations too.

Finally, on 23rd April 2018 people believed
their power and decided to sail the boats towards Iranaithivu island which was
occupied by the Navy since 1992.

morning , the parish priest had a mass on 23rd
April at 7.00am. after the mass , started a march towards the anchoring point
of Fisher folks in Iranaimathanagar. at the anchoring point, we started to move
towards the Iranaithivu Island in 40 boats rest of the people stayed at the
coast.we reached theIranaithivu around 11.30am. as soon as we
entered to the Island , Navy personal have come and inquired us but they didn't
stop because many people suddenly landed in the island. and people decided to stay in the island until they receive the land officially from the government.

Finally, on 23rd April 2018 people of Iranaithivu believed
their power and decided to sail the boats towards Iranaithivu island which was
occupied by the Navy since 1992.

morning , the parish priest had a mass on 23rd
April at 7.00am. after the mass , started a march towards the anchoring point
of Fisher folks in Iranaimathanagar. at the anchoring point, we started to move
towards the Iranaithivu Island in 40 boats rest of the people stayed at the
coast.we reached theIranaithivu around 11.30am. as soon as we
entered to the Island , Navy personal have come and inquired us but they didn't
stop because many people suddenly landed in the island.

last 6th May , PA has provided some of dry food
for the people to continue their struggle from the island without leaving. few
politicians also provided food. meanwhile fishermen stated to catch fishes
also. therefore people were able to continue the struggle from the island.

after that, some parliamentarians have visited
but government officials didn't visit. then Chief Minister of Northern Province
has come on 14th May, The Chief Minister said that he has no power to release
the land legally..

Today Mr. Anthonyone of the leader of the struggle phoned the Praja Abhilasha Network's coordinator Francis Raajan and thanked. Further stated today 15th May 2018 , District Secretary/Additional District Secretary/ and officials
from Ministry of Land have visited today and said 190 acres of land has been
released and people can stay in the island. three houses are using by the navy.
those three houses will be released in a month.

Farmers suffers without the pasture land in Mullaithivu District in Sri Lanka even if the sites have been identified and proposed by the people. governments always step back when they allocate land for farmers or fishermen but government allocate and release the land for the large scale hoteliers and investors without any concern. it is a major discrimination in our country.. power is working for the person who has given Money, not for the person who given vote.

Written By Joining Hands Network on Tuesday, May 15, 2018 | 4:45 AM

Sampur people protest today 14th May 2018 against bulldozing their lands which have been occupied by navy in Sampur, Trincomalee.. during the protest few leaders from Sampur was called upon for meeting with the navy official... the navy has told that 236 acres of Land has been Gazetted for protecting the environment of this area and handed over to the military in 2016...but people are not aware on this Gazette... I think , all the nations should stand for this government land grabbing which stage through the military...

Civilians’ land, used by Jaffna Security Forces,in Sri Lanka released a record 683 acres of land in the Tellippalai Divisional Secretariat area to 964 legal owners during a ceremony held on 13th April 2018 in the same location under the auspices of the Army Commander Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanayake and the Jaffna District Secretary Jaffna Nagalingam Vedanayagam. Praja Abhilsha Network has been working with this community since 2007. people tirelessly keep on struggling to gain their land back. even if the government released 683 acres of Land , there are three military camps are still located inside this released area, Therefore nearly 50 families who were in the Konatpulam and Sababathipillai welfare camps and are unable to return to this land. The Konatpulam welfare camp has been located in the private owners' land and now those owners are insisting the people to vacate the camp because they says the land is released you must go from our land - but when the military still keep on remaining their land, how the rest of the family can go and settle. so a victim called Thavam says that even if the land is released people cannot go and live because there is no water , all the houses have been broken , at the same time, there is no any other basic facilities . government hasn't provided anything to live there. the people who have money are only cleaning their lands and fencing , others are still in the camp. so the government should take action on poor families to support to clean their land because the lands are jungle now. also government should provide basic facilities to regain their lives back.

Iranaithivu Land 190 acres were handed over to the people back today 15th May 2018 by the government authorities after the continuous protest of the people since 1st of May 2017. The island is located in northern province of Sri Lanka. Praja Abhilsha Network has collaterally been working with the community from the beginning of the struggle.. Praja Abhilsha Network is taking this time to thank all the organizations and networks which supported and joined hands with the struggle of Iranaithivu.

Written By Joining Hands Network on Saturday, May 5, 2018 | 5:38 AM

on April 25th , 2018 -around 300 people took part in a protest and March near the Town Hall in Colombo and demand the government to form a National land policy which in favor of farmers, Fishers and public. NAFSO/Praja Abhilasha Network/PARL together organized the protest. Preople from 16 District were present for the protest and demanded to stop land grabbing specially.

Iranaithivu people of Northern province in Sri Lanka conducted protest and March on 23rd April 2018. The people have been staged a continuous protest since 1st of May 2017. The Iranaithivu people displaced by war in 1992. the people are unable to return to their original home until now. more than 500 people took part at this protest. Praja Abhilasha Network has organized the Mannar people who affected by land and those people joined hands with the Iranaithivi people's protest. More than 60 people were present from Mannar and provided solidarity.